Favorite Chain Restaurants

[OldGuy]

For us . . . . Texas Roadhouse.

Chilis is a frequent choice, sorta by default since it is so functional. We split fajitas, and have enough to take some home with extra tortillas and chips.

Favorite chain pizza is Hungry Howie's, ham and mushrooms, uncut, and I finish it off at home, 350 for 6-8 minutes. Carry-out pizza is notoriously undercooked. We only get HH in Florida.

 

[clifffaith]

Cracker Barrel. We don't have them anywhere near us, so any trip from Sedona to Santa Fe involves a highly anticipated stop at CB. Lemonade, fried chicken and cornbread, and fingers crossed it's not a Sunday when all the locals are there for Sunday dinner. At home we have become Olive Garden fans. Especially during buy one take one promos -- between leftovers and the take home meals we eat for at least four days.

 

[Passepartout]

We try to avoid chain joints, preferring instead to support local people. Not always possible, but we try. Just got an Indian restaurant. The owner came out and thanked US for coming in and said WE were the reason he opened here. (there aren't enough S.Asians around here to sneeze at) The Mexican eateries are stiff competition for each other. Same with Chinese bufays. Favorite chains are McAlister's Deli and Panera Bread.

Jim

 

[Luanne]

None. There are too many really good non-chains.

 

[jimf41]

White Castle.

 

[PcflEZFlng]

Cracker Barrel. We don't have them anywhere near us, so any trip from Sedona to Santa Fe involves a highly anticipated stop at CB.

No CB near us, either, and we also like to go there when in AZ and other states. They finally opened one in CA a year or so ago, but it's out in the desert on the way to Las Vegas. So we're still not regulars of CB.
When at home, we usually go to local restaurants, including locally-based chains that are for the most part known only here. There are a lot of good locally-based choices (chain and non-chain) in our area.
One fast-food chain that we particularly like is Freddy's Steakburgers. Great burgers, frozen custard, and cheese curds. I think they're primarily in the Midwest but they have a few outposts in CA, including one near us.

 

[heathpack]

We like a couple of chains:

1. Mimi’s Cafe for breakfast, because I’m a sucker for their buttermilk spice muffins. Also you can get a calorie count of all their items online, which really helps if you’re going to eat one of their giant buttermilk spice muffins.

2. Lazy Dog Restaurant, which is a mostly California chain. Pet friendly patio and I really like their Thai Chicken Salad, which is super tasty and under 500 cal. Good cocktails and lots of options that Mr H likes, so I can get my healthy salad and he can find something he likes too

3. Wood Ranch BBQ, another local chain. Good barbecue, healthy sides. Oh yeah and plenty of non healthy sides for Mr H too. They make a mean Paloma and have good wine and beer options.

4. Baja Fresh. A fast food place where you can actually avoid fried stuff if you want to

5. And for a dog-accompanied road trip where you can’t stop to eat in a restaurant: Wendy’s (decent salads) or McDonalds (Egg McMuffin)...

 

[heathpack]

Oh yeah. I like Panera Breads you pick two option. Half a Mediterranean Veggie Sandwich and half a salad, or sometimes soup.

 

[dioxide45]

We try to avoid chain joints, preferring instead to support local people.

Interestingly, chain restaurants are usually operated by a franchisee that is local and employ locals...

 

[dioxide45]

Perhaps our favorite is Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen. Really liked it when it first opened up near us in Ohio. Then Darden bought it out and quality has suffered a little. Have one close to us where we are now in Jacksonville. We also like Chuy's. Have to have the jalapeno ranch with the tortilla chips, salsa is for sissies.

 

[Luanne]

Interestingly, chain restaurants are usually operated by a franchisee that is local and employ locals...

Yes, true. But that doesn't make the food any better.

 

[dioxide45]

Yes, true. But that doesn't make the food any better.

I wouldn't say the food is better or worse than some local establishments. We have eaten in some bad local joints. One thing you can say about chains is that it is consistent and you have a pretty good idea of what it will be like when you walk in. Local places can vary from one to the other and you have to rely on reviews pretty heavily, which of course are not always accurate.

 

[klpca]

I only have two that I frequent, and at both I eat the same thing every time. So I am actually recommending the Pasta Fagioli soup at Olive Garden and the Dynamite Shrimp at PF Changs. Oh, and I actually like the salads at Chipotle. Skip the dressing and add guacamole.

For local chains, I like Rubios.

And I really like the unsweetened iced tea at McDonalds. At $1 it's a deal!

 

[Luanne]

I wouldn't say the food is better or worse than some local establishments. We have eaten in some bad local joints. One thing you can say about chains is that it is consistent and you have a pretty good idea of what it will be like when you walk in. Local places can vary from one to the other and you have to rely on reviews pretty heavily, which of course are not always accurate.

When I was a kid and we'd do family road trips we'd always stop at Denny's. It goes to your comment that the food is consistent. Not great, sometimes not even good, but you knew what you were going to get.

Now on road trips we might stop at a chain, if there is nothing else. But, what I tend to do is go online as we're approaching a town and look for restaurants. I'll read the reviews and we've found some gems that way.

I have eaten at chains, and will eat there, if that is basically my only choice. The question was, "favorite chain restaurants". My answer still is, none. I guess my favorite is In n Out, but that might only be because there isn't one in our state and I haven't been there in years. When there was one in the town we lived in in California, I really hardly ever ate there.

 

[Talent312]

Texas Roadhouse... not only for steaks and ribs, but margaritas.
DW likes Carrabba's pollo rosa maria and blackberry sangria.

 

[DaveNV]

Of the places you've all named, the only ones in my area are Olive Garden, Panera, Denny's, and Chipotle. (Well, and McDonald's, but they're everywhere.) We like OG once in awhile - eating in the bar so we can avoid all the screaming kids in the main dining room. I've gotten the Pick Two at Panera for spouse's lunch twice in the last three days. (Major points for me, delivering hot lunch to a starving spouse, who is working at Costco in the run-up to July 4th. Imagine the chaos!) Chipotle is in the same strip mall as Panera, but I tend to forget they're there, because parking is a hassle, and they're at the end of a tight turnaround in the parking lot. I like their food, the few times I've had it. Denny's is in an older, more run-down part of town I rarely visit. Haven't eaten there in years.

I need to travel more, so I can enjoy some of these restaurants you folks like so much.

Dave

 

[Luanne]

I need to travel more, so I can enjoy some of these restaurants you folks like so much.

Dave

Just remember The Pantry and ask if you want to eat in chain restaurants.

 

[pedro47]

Cracker Barrel for breakfast because they are along I-95 and I-85 for traveling purposes from Virginia. The food quality is average for a National Chain.

 

[DaveNV]

Just remember The Pantry and ask if you want to eat in chain restaurants.

If I ever get back to Santa Fe, you know The Pantry will be at the top of my list. Again.

I agree there are plenty of non-chain restaurants that are great. But if you don't know about them, and/or you're a stranger in town, knowing about a chain restaurant may help avoid eating somewhere you shouldn't. We've all done that. I like to ask at the desk staff at hotels and timeshares where they go when they're not at work, specifically to avoid chains. But in lieu of that, a known chain might be better than not.

Dave

 

[clifffaith]

No CB near us, either, and we also like to go there when in AZ and other states. They finally opened one in CA a year or so ago, but it's out in the desert on the way to Las Vegas. So we're still not regulars of CB.
When at home, we usually go to local restaurants, including locally-based chains that are for the most part known only here. There are a lot of good locally-based choices (chain and non-chain) in our area.
One fast-food chain that we particularly like is Freddy's Steakburgers. Great burgers, frozen custard, and cheese curds. I think they're primarily in the Midwest but they have a few outposts in CA, including one near us.

We were to Worldmark Pismo in early June and noticed signs for a new CB in Santa Maria. We're headed there again in September or October, so we might just stop for a CB fix.

 

[Luanne]

If I ever get back to Santa Fe, you know The Pantry will be at the top of my list. Again.

I agree there are plenty of non-chain restaurants that are great. But if you don't know about them, and/or you're a stranger in town, knowing about a chain restaurant may help avoid eating somewhere you shouldn't. We've all done that. I like to ask at the desk staff at hotels and timeshares where they go when they're not at work, specifically to avoid chains. But in lieu of that, a known chain might be better than not.

Dave

I said this earlier, but I'll mention it again. I tend to use TripAdvsor, or other reviews I can find online if I'm trying to find something on the fly. Some of the small towns we've been through haven't even had a decent chain restaurant.

 

[magmue]

The Original Pancake House (NOT IHOP!), sometimes called Walker Brothers Pancake House. Their apple pancake is to die for, and the rest of their breakfasts are excellent as well. They were a favorite when I was a young adult in Chicago and didn't realize they were a chain - started in Portland - until I moved to Oregon and found one in my new home town.

And one that started here in Eugene OR, Cafe Yumm. They're known for their beans & rice bowls topped with Yumm Sauce. Natural and healthy and good. They are taking their time expanding - in 11 Oregon towns, one in Idaho and 2 in Washington.

 

[geist1223]

Cracker Barrel for breakfast because they are along I-95 and I-85 for traveling purposes from Virginia. The food quality is average for a National Chain.

Our first and probably last trip to CB the Bisquits were cold and hard.

 

[Talent312]

Our first and probably last trip to CB the Bisquits were cold and hard.

Don't accept cold, hard biscuits, or any food that's inedible, anywhere.
IME, most places are willing to fix or replace just about any dish.

At CB last Friday, our biscuits were steaming hot, fresh from the oven.
But a fellow diner complained his chicken was too spicy.
They made him a new plate of less spicy chicken.

Another time, a diner spilled the leftovers he was putting into a box.
They brought him a new order packed to go. It never hurts to ask.
.

 

[clifffaith]

I have eaten at chains, and will eat there, if that is basically my only choice. The question was, "favorite chain restaurants". My answer still is, none. I guess my favorite is In n Out, but that might only be because there isn't one in our state and I haven't been there in years. When there was one in the town we lived in in California, I really hardly ever ate there.

In N Out really does make a great burger. We'd tried Habit Burger, and I think one other of the higher end burger joints where burgers are about $8, so when we picked up In N Out for my now home bound parents we were pleasantly surprised they were only around $4. And the fries are so generous that two orders feeds four people, and Cliff is still left finishing those up when everyone else is full. I do enjoy an occasional Quarter Pounder, if I'm not eating the now available-all-day Egg McMuffin, but for a chain burger the In N Out at least feels like you got your quota of vegetables for the day. My favorite fast food sandwich is the Santa Fe Chicken sandwich at Carl's Jr, but the darn things are like $6 now, and it's been eons since I've seen a coupon.